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Rather than continuing his pattern of trying to become history reincarnate (something which is likely spurred by his lack of actual personal, non-electoral achievement), President-elect Obama should use his inaugural address to speak directly to the American people not as a messianic or "transformational" figure, but as the first among equals in position and in actual hope -- not "hope" the slogan, but optimistic hope of the sort that characterized Ronald Reagan's leadership over two decades ago.

Reagan knew that whatever troubles America faced could be overcome not by government, but by the American people themselves, with their indomitable spirit of entrepreneurship, ingenuity, and ruggedly individualistic refusal to fail. If president-elect Obama needs to internalize this lesson from one of the greatest presidents in American history, and can act on it rather than repeating the poll-watching, decision-avoidance mistakes of the man who held the office two presidencies later, he can create a successful term for himself in the Oval Office, thereby relieving himself of the need to constantly try to put his own face on poor-man's recreations the successes of others.

Rather than bitterly clinging to the historically disproven notion that "only government" can pull America out of whatever perceived doldrums she may be in economically, socially, internationally, or anywhere else, Obama should embrace the spirit of optimism, of survival, and of free enterprise that has for so long made this country and its people the leaders of the free world and the most prosperous nation on earth. If he were to begin setting that tone with Tuesday's inaugural address, promising that a light at the end of the tunnel will shortly be in sight, and that he will ensure that government gets out of the way and allows that recovery to be realized, he would be starting off on the right foot what could well be a historic presidency on its own merits.

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